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About

My story

Hi everybody! My name is Shelly. I live in New Jersey but I was born and raised in Israel, where I met my husband and brought up together our two sons.

A few years ago, our life path led us to Akron, Ohio, and it didn’t take me long to realize that if I want my kids to grow up with a Jewish identity like I did, I need to be active about it.

It never occurred to me that in Israel in order to be raised Jewish all you needed to do is…live in Israel. It just happened by itself. Growing up and learning about our history and heritage in kindergarten and schools, visiting savta’s (grandma) house for Shabbat dinner, or simply walking the empty roads with friends on Yom Kippur to hear the Shofar. In Akron, I was introduced to a different reality, and I realized that keeping the Jewish identity in my family is my responsibility and my task. And whatever I won’t do, won’t happen by itself.

I admire each and every one of Akron’s Jewish community because today I know what it takes to be Jewish in a diverse society.

I also know that I can say the same about each and every one of you.

The reason I created JoyBox

Being Jewish is who I am, it is my identity. I can be an orthodox, secular, and everything in between. Whatever path I choose, I am still Jewish. Some keep kosher and go to Shul on Sabbath, others are celebrating Passover once a year, and some just know in their heart that they are, each and every one has its own unique way, but we are all part of this community.

I find a lot of beauty in Judaism, many of the Jewish rituals are about honoring friends, family and the community as a whole.

Shabbat dinner, for example, the ancient Friday night tradition in which Jews bless Candles, Challah, and Wine, then share a meal with loved ones and unplug, even just for a little while.

Giving back to the community is another core value you can find in Judaism. The notion of charity, Tzedakah, provides us a strong moral foundation.

That is the reason why JOYBOX was created, to experience all of this and more. To connect with our Jewish identity, and to pass it from generation to generation, Me’dor L’dor, in order to help to shape the future of the Jewish world for years to come.